Riley Farm-Rhymes

THE ORCHARD LANDS OF LONG AGO

     The orchard lands of Long Ago!
     O drowsy winds, awake, and blow
     The snowy blossoms back to me,
     And all the buds that used to be!
     Blow back along the grassy ways
     Of truant feet, and lift the haze
     Of happy summer from the trees
     That trail their tresses in the seas
     Of grain that float and overflow
     The orchard lands of Long Ago!

     Blow back the melody that slips
     In lazy laughter from the lips
     That marvel much if any kiss
     Is sweeter than the apple's is.
     Blow back the twitter of the birds—
     The lisp, the titter, and the words
     Of merriment that found the shine
     Of summer-time a glorious wine
     That drenched the leaves that loved it so,
     In orchard lands of Long Ago!

     O memory! alight and sing
     Where rosy-bellied pippins cling,
     And golden russets glint and gleam,
     As, in the old Arabian dream,
     The fruits of that enchanted tree
     The glad Aladdin robbed for me!
     And, drowsy winds, awake and fan
     My blood as when it overran
     A heart ripe as the apples grow
     In orchard lands of Long Ago!